All things considered ---

I have had the opportunity  to do some reading lately ---

Seems I've got to rethink my position on secession, --

I'll get back to you.

Secession / Slavery

Lincoln said he had no intention to interfere with slavery - in his First Inaugural Address,
"I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."
Yet the party platform in 1860 says--
# 8. That the normal condition of all the territory of the United States is that of freedom: That, as our Republican fathers, when they had abolished slavery in all our national territory, ordained that "no persons should be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law," it becomes our duty, by legislation, whenever such legislation is necessary, to maintain this provision of the Constitution against all attempts to violate it; and we deny the authority of Congress, of a territorial legislature, or of any individuals, to give legal existence to slavery in any territory of the United States.
So is it any wonder slave owners were concerned over Lincoln's election ?

• Dew in his book admits Virginia left the Union because of Lincoln's call for 75.000 troops. 
•  NOT SLAVERY !
•  And McCardell in his book tells how wide spread "sectionalism" was in the South, so VA could have left the union for reasons other Than SC.
  And people within each state had differing reasons for wanting to leave or stay !